Automatic matrix-clamping and mold-adjusting mechanism



Dec: 9, 1

F. W. LETSCH AUTOMATIC MATRIX CLAMPING AND MOLD ADJUSTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1921 F. w. LETSCH AUTOMATIC MATRIX CLAMPING AND MOLD ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 8, 1921, 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC MATRIX-CLAMPING AND MOLD-ADJUSTING MECHANISM.

Application filed August 8, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. LETSCH, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic MatriX-Clamping and Mold-Adjusting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to typograpl'iic machines and particularly machines for automatically clamping matrices in front of the mold cavity and varying the length of such cavity so that slugs or logotypes of any desired length may be cast. The invention involves certain improvements in the type of machine disclosed in my prior Patent, No. 1,381,205, dated June 14., 1921.

It is the object of the invention to provide improved mechanism by which the machine of my prior patent, particularly when used with the assembling and transfer mechanism of my co-pending application Serial No. 423,698 filed November 12, 1920, can be employed when desired for casting single types or logotypes containing any desired number of characters. A further object is to so an range the improved mechanism that the machine may be employed to cast ordinary line matter by using matrices and justifying wedges in the usual manner and also employed without the use of justifying wedges to cast single types or logotypes containingvarying numbers of characters, the simple manipulation of a latch or look servingto put the machine in condition to operate one way or the other as desired. A still further object is to provide yielding means for closing one end of the mold and for clamping the matrices during the casting operation thus making it unnecessary for the operator to give any attention to setting or adjusting of the mold cavity or the assembler when single types or logotypes ofvaryinn' lengths are being cast.

My improved mechanism is of particular utility in connection with tabular work. where, for example, it is desired to print several columns of figures on a page, and where the number of figures in the various sums differ. I The operation of setting up matter of that kind in the machines now in use is more or less unsatisfactory. Generally, the practice is to cast long slugs containing sev eral groups of figures or characters and to saw or ou such slugs into proper lengths.

Serial No. 490,785.

But this requires careful operation in cutting and trimming the slugs and when finally formed they contain transverse ribs, resulting from the casting in a closed mold, which ribs prevent proper locking up of the slugs in a straight line in the printing form. Where single type casting machines are employed in setting up such tabular matter, it is of course necessary to cast a separate type or slug for each figure or character, which requires that numerous slugs, each containing a single character, must be handled. lVith the machine of my prior patent having the present improvement applied thereto, ordinary line matter may be set up or by the simple manipulation of a latch or locking device, the machine may be put into condition tocast single types or logotypes of varying length without the necessity of manually varying the mold cavity so that the characters or figures making up the different, sums of tabular work may be cast on separate slugs which may be easily assembled and handled and locked up in the printing forms.

The foregoing and other useful advantages are obtained by the construction described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, it being apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the constructions may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its benefits.

In the accompanying drawings-- Figure 1 is a front view showing certain port-ions of a machine like that of my prior patent with the present improvements applied thereto.

FigureQ is a view partly in section of the mechanism shown in Figure 1. this view being taken at right angles to Figure l.

Figure 3 is a detailed view showing part of the mold and the means for closing the ends of the mold and clamping the matrices in position.

Figure 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the relation between certain parts of the machine embodied in my prior patent and the parts to which the present invention relates.

Many of the features hereinfter described and illustrated in the drawings are the same or substantially the same as corresponding features of prior patent abQve v The mechanism for accomplishing this improved result will now be' described. Loosely mounted on the shaft 30 is a hub 40 which is provided with a downwardly extending arm 41 composed of two parts 41 and 41 between which a coiled spring 42 is mounted, this arrangement constituting a yielding arm for a purpose hereinafter described. At its lower end the arm 41 carries a roller which is adapted to bear on a cam 44 which is concentric with and arranged adjacent to the cam 34 heretofore described. Means are provided for locking the hub 40 to the shaft 30 when it is desired to cast single type or short slugs without use of justifying means. The hub 40 is provided with a slot or recess 45 into which a lug or projection 46 is adapted to slide, this lug or projection being carried on a slide or key 48 which slides longitudinally in a groove or way of the shaft 30. The hub 28 heretofore mentioned is also provided with a slot or recess adapted to receive the lug or projection 46. The outer end of the key 48 is provided with a knurled head 49 by which the same may be operated and a small stop 50 is pivotally mounted on the head 49. This stop normally engages the end of the shaft 30 and holds the lug 46 within the recess of the hub 28. The end of the shaft 30 adjacent the head 49 is provided with a recess 51 in which the stop 50 may be projected when the same is raised so that the key 48 may be moved inwardly to engage the lug 46 with the slot- 45 of the hub 40. From the foregoing it will be understood that when. the lug 46 rests in the recess of the hub 28 the hub 40 will be disconnected from the shaft 30 and the cam 44 will have no action on the movements of the arm 27. l/Vhen, however, the lug or projection 46 is moved into the slot 45 of the hub 40 the latter is locked to the shaft 30 so that the arm 27 and block 19 are moved under the influence of cam 44 as well as cam 34.

The cams 34 and .44 are so shaped that when both are operative, i. e., when the lug 46 rests in the slot 45, the action of cam 44 will modify the normal action of the cam 34. The cam 44 operates through the arms 27 and 41 which together constitute a yielding lever pivoted to the machine frame. The spring 42 of this lever is stronger than the spring 36 so that the latter will yield sooner than the former when motion is transmitted to the arm 27 from the cam 44. The cam 44 has a low surface indicated at 44 a part of which is adjacent the low portion of cam 34. When both wheels 33, 43 rest on low parts of the cams the arm 27' together with the body piece 17 and end lock 18 will be drawn toward the right by the spring 36, the gage 26 being set, if desired, to permit maximum m v ment of such parts toward the right. When the parts have thus been moved toward the right, the matrices in any desired number may be presented to the mold. Assuming that the cam 44 is operative, it is apparent that the spring 42 will exert a yielding action on the body-piece 17 and end lock 18 so that the matrices will be yieldingly clamped against the end gate by the pressure of this spring. Any desired number of matrices may thus be positioned before the mold and be securely held by the pressure of the spring 42 while a case is made, although at such time the parts of the mold also tightly clamp the body piece 17. It will be understood that the surface 44 of cam 44 is of such height as to cause the combined body piece and end lock 17 18 to move toward the left a sufficient distance to clamp one or more matrices between it and the abutment 16. On the other hand the low port-ions of cams 34 and 44 are such as to permit the member 17 18 to be moved toward the right a distance suflicient to en-- able the maximum number of matrices to be presented to the mold. Thus with the cam 44 operating, the member 17 and 18 reciprocates longitudinally of the mold cavity and the matrices presented to the mold, regardless of their number, will be clamped and held during the casting operation and slugs of varying length may be made without changing any adjustment of the machine. No setting of the mold cavity is necessary and the slug produced will be equal to the measure of the assembled line or matrix placed before the mold. After the casting operation is completed the high part 34 of cam 34 comes into action and ejects the cast slug in the same manneras when the cam 44 is inoperative. During this latter action it will be understood that the cam roller 43 will be lifted out of contact with the cam 44. hen the slug is ejected the low part of cam 44 again comes into play to position the arm 27 as here tofore stated.

It is apparent therefore that with the present improvements applied to the machine of my prior patent, particularly when employing the assembling and transfer mechanism of my co-pending application heretofore mentioned, such machine may be used to cast ordinary line matter and by the simple manipulation of the sliding lock it may also be used to cast single types or logotypes of varying length without the necessity of manually changing the mold cavity or the assembler for different lengths of slugs.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: g

1. In a. typographic machine. a mold,

means for positioning matrices adjacent the mold, means for closing one end of the mold, means for closing the other end of the mold and for clamping the matrices during the casting operation, yieldable mechanism for moving said last named means toward the matrices, and means for further moving said last named means in the aforementioned direction to eject cast slugs from the mold.

2. In a typographic machine, a mold, means for positioning matrices adjacentthe mold, a body-piece for closing one end of the mold during the casting operation, yieldable means for moving said body-piece toward the matrices after the same have been positioned before the mold, means for clamping the matrices during the casting operation, and means for further moving said body piece in the aforementioned direction to eject cast slugs from the mold.

3. In a typographic machine, a mold, means for positioning matrices adjacent the mold, a combined body-piece and end lock for closing one end of the mold and clamping the matrices during the casting operation, yieldable means for moving said body piece and end lock toward the matrices to clamp the same, and means for further moving said body piece in the aforementioned direction to eject cast slugs from the mold.

4. In a typographic machine, mechanism for casting slugs of varying lengths, said mechanism comprising a mold having a slot, an abutment adjacent one end of said mold, a member for cooperating with said abutment to clamp matrices in front of said mold, yieldable means for causing said member to move from a position, remote from said abutment to a position in close proximity thereto, whereby matrices pre sented to the mold regardless of their number will be clamped between said member and said abutment, means for varying the length of the mold slot to correspond with the number of clamped matrices, and means for presenting matrices to the mold.

5. In a typographic machine, a mold, means for positioning matrices adjacent the mold, an abutment against which the matrices are adapted to be clamped, a member movable toward said abutment to clamp the matrices against the abutment during the c: sting operation, yieldable -means for moving said member toward said abutment, and means for further moving said member in the aforementioned direction to eject cast slugs from the mold.

6. In a typographic machine, a mold, means for positioning matrices adjacent the mold, an end gate for the mold, means for clamping the matrices against the end gate and closing one end of the mold during the casting operation, said means including a slidable member, yieldable means member in the aforementioned direction to eject cast slugs from the mold.

7. In a typographic machine, mechanism for casting slugs of varying lengths, said mechanism comprising a mold having a slot, means for presenting matrices thereto, an abutment adjacent one end of the mold, a member movable toward and from said abutment, and yieldable means for moving said member to clamp the matrices between said abutment and said member regardless of the number of matrices presented to the mold and means for varying the length of the mold slot to correspond with the number of clamped matrices.

8.In a typographic machine, a mold, means for positioning matrices adjacent said mold, an end gate for the mold, an end lock movable toward and from the end gate, an arm for moving said end lock toward said end gate to clamp the matrices during the casting operation, a cam for moving said arm, a yieldable connection between said. cam and arm whereby varying nuntibers of matrices may be clamped by said end-locl, and means for further mov- .ing said end lock in the aforementioned direction to eject cast slugs from the mold.

9. In a typographic machine, mechanism for casting slugs of varying lengths, a mold, an abut-ment adjacent one end of said mold, a member for cooperating with said abutment to clamp matrices in front of said mold, yieldable means for causing said member to move from a position remote of said abutment to a position in close proximity thereto, whereby matrices presented to the mold regardless of their number will be clamped between said member and said abutment, and means for further moving said member in the aforementioned direction to eject the cast slugs from the mold.

10. In a typographic machine, a mold, an abutment adjacent one end of the mold, a member for cooperating vith said abutment to clamp matrices in front of the mold, yieldable means for moving said member toward said abutment from a position remote therefrom, whereby matrices presented to themold will be clamped between said member and abut-ment during the casting operation, and means for further moving said member in the aforementioned direction to eject the cast slugs from the mold.

11. In a typographic machine, a mold, means for positioning matrices adjacent the mold, and means for clamping the matrices during the casting operation and ejecting the cast slugs from the mold, said last named means including a slidable member, a cam, a flexible lever connected to said member and ion operated by said cam, and a second cam for moving said slidable member to eject cast slugs from the mold.

12. In a typographic machine, a mold, means for positioning matrices adjacent the mold, and means for clamping the matrices during the casting operation and for ejecting the same from the mold, said last named means including an end-lock, an arm for moving the end-lock, two cams for moving said arm, and yieldable means interposed between one of said cams and said arm.

13. In a typographic machine, a mold, means for positioning matrices adjacent the mold and means for clamping the matrices during the casting operation, said last named means including, a slide, a flexible lever for moving said slide, said lever having two portions pivotally connected and a coiled spring arranged between such portions, and means for moving said lever.

14:. In a typographic machine, a mold, a movable arm pivotally secured to the machine, means movable by said arm for clamping matrices adjacent the mold and closing one end of the mold during the casting operation, yieldable means for operating said arm in a direction to cause clamping of matrices positioned before the mold and means for further moving said arm in the aforementioned direction to eject the cast slugs from the mold.

15. In a typographic machine, a mold, a flexible lever pivotally mounted on the machine, a cam for moving said lever, means movable by said lever for clamping matrices adjacent the mold and closing one end of the mold during the casting operation, and a second cam operable on said last mentioned means for ejecting the cast slugs from the mold.

16. In a typographic machine, a mold, means for closing one end of the mold, a body-piece for closing the other end of the mold, a flexible lever for moving said bodypiece toward said end closing means to close the mold, means for moving said lever, and means for moving said body-piece to eject the cast slug.

17. In a typographic machine, a mold, a body-piece for forming one end of the mold cavity, mechanism for operating said bodypiece through a definite cycle of operations during the casting of one character of matter, mechanism for modifying the action of said first named mechanism when casting matter of a difi'erent character, and a device for rendering said last named mechanism operative or inoperative at will.

18. In a typographic machine, a mold, a combined body-piece and end-lock for the mold, mechanism for moving said bodypiece and end-lock through one cycle of operations when matter of one character is being cast, mechanism for modifying the action of said first named mechanism when matter of a different character is being cast, and a manually operated device for rendering said last named mechanism operative or inoperative at will.

19. In a typographic machine having a mold and means for positioning matrices adjacent the mold, the combination of a slidable member, means for moving said member and holding the same in a predetermined fixed position as matrices are positioned adjacent the mold and during the casting operation, alternative means for moving said slide toward the matrices and clamping the same after they have been positioned before the mold and during the casting operation, and a device for rendering the last named means operative or inoperative at will.

20. In a typographic machine, a mold,

means for assembling and positioning a line of matrices and space bands before themold and justifying the same, an end-lock slidably mounted adjacent the mold for supporting the matrices during the casting opera- 7 tion, means for holding said end-lock in a predetermined fixed position as the assembled line of matrices and space bands is justified and during the casting operation, other means for moving said end-lock against matrices and clamping the same during the casting operation when slugs of different length are to be cast, and a manually controlled device for rendering said last named means operative or inoperative at will.

21. In a typographic machine, a mold, means for assembling and positioning matrices before the mold, a member movably mounted adjacent the mold, an adjustable device for holding said member in a predetermined fixed position while a line of matrices is positioned for casting and during the casting operation, means for thereafter moving said member to eject the cast slug, means for modifying the action of said first named means so as to cause said member to move against the matrices and yieldingly clamp the same during the casting operation whereby slugs of different length may be cast without adjustment of said adjustable device, and a manually controlled device for rendering said last named means operative or inoperative at will.

22. In a typographic machine, a mold, a slide movably mounted adjacent the mold, means for moving said slide, said means including a cam for causing said slide to move in a certain manner, a second cam for modifying the action of said first cam, and a device for rendering said second cam operative or inoperative at will.

23. In a typographic machine, an arm pivotally supported on the machine, a cam for moving said armv through a'certain cycle lOU 'of operations, a second cam for modifying the action of the first cam, a device for rendering said second cam operative or inoperative at will, and means associated with the casting mechanism of the machine to which said arm is connected.

24:. In a typographic machine, a lever pivoted to the frame of the machine, means associated with the casting mechanism of the machine connected to one end of the lever, a cam for moving the other end of the lever to cause the same to perform a certain cycle of operations, a second cam, means operated by said second cam for modifying the action of the first cam on said lever, and a manually operated device for rendering said last named means operative or inoperative at will.

25. In a typographic machine, a lever pivoted to the frame of the machine, a cam for operating said lever through a certain cycle of operations when matter of one character is being cast, a second cam for operating 'on said lever and modifying the action of said first cam when matter of another character is being cast, and a manually controlled device for rendering said last named cam operative or inoperative to move said lever. I I

26, In a typographic machine, a lever, a shaft pivotally supported on the machine to which said lever is rigidly secured intermediate its ends, a cam for engaging one arm of said lever to cause the other arm to perform a certain cycle of operations when matter of one character is being cast, a

second cam, an arm pivotally supported on said shaft and engaging said last named cam, and a manually operated device for connecting said last named arm with said lever whereby operation of the first named cam on said lever is modified when matter of a different kind is being cast.

27. In a typographic machine, a shaft pivotally supported on the machine, an arm rigidly secured to said shaft, a second arm normally loosely engaging said shaft, a cam for moving each of said arms, a third lever rigidly secured to said shaft and movable by one of said cams and said first arm through a certain cycle of operations when matter of one kind is being cast, and a manually operated device for connecting said second arm to said shaft whereby the action of said last named cam is modified by the other cam when matter of a different character is being cast.

28. In a typographic machine, two cams, two arms operated thereby, a third arm rigidly connected to one of said first named arms and normally operated thereby through a certain cycle of operations while matter of one character is being cast, a manually operated device for connecting the other of said first name-d arms to said third arm whereby themovement-s of said third arm are modi fied when matter of a different character is being cast.

FREDERICK W. LETSCH. 

